The Obamas are coming to Netflix, with their own series and features
It’s official – former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama are coming to Netflix at some point in the future! In a press statement released yesterday, Netflix revealed that the Obamas have signed on with the video-streaming platform for a multi-year deal. While no details of the finances involved were revealed, the press statement claims that the former First Couple of the USA will produce “a diverse mix of content, including the potential for scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features”.
The Obamas were first reported to be considering a production deal with one of the top entertainment and video streaming platforms in March this year, with The New York Times reporting that the final selection had been narrowed down to Netflix, Amazon, and Apple. According to the Netflix press statement, the Obamas will create content for Netflix under the banner of Higher Ground Productions. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos commented, “Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures and are uniquely positioned to discover and highlight stories of people who make a difference in their communities and strive to change the world for the better...We are incredibly proud they have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities.”
While it is unclear what tone the programming will take, Barack Obama’s marked reluctance to take a more active role in politics after his presidency suggests that the shows may explore non-political themes. For now, there is no word on when we can expect the Obamas to make their debut on Netflix, but it will surely be one viewers look forward to!